Topic Guide - Women in Ministry

Pentecostals believe that the outpouring of the Spirit begun in the early twentieth century is a true fulfillment of prophecy, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy . . . Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28,29; cf. Acts 2:16–18).1 That women as well as men are to prophesy is indicative of their inclusion in the ministries of the new covenant age.

At Brentwood Baptist Church, we believe everyone is gifted and called to serve in ministry. Not only are we saved from our sins, we are saved for a particular service. That’s why, when someone becomes a member of Brentwood Baptist Church, they go through a process to identify their gifts and receive coaching to help them understand how God has uniquely called them to serve in the church.

All congregations in the Christian Reformed Church in North America may allow women to serve in the office of minister, elder, deacon, or commissioned pastor. The CRC recognizes that there are two different perspectives and convictions on this issue, both of which honor the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God...

The Church of the Nazarene supports the right of women to use their God-given spiritual gifts within the church and affirms the historic right of women to be elected and appointed to places of leadership within the Church of the Nazarene, including the offices of both elder and deacon.

Women are empowered by working collaboratively with women’s organizations, program and ministry groups within and outside the Church, as well as with global and local networks working for gender justice, and individual women compelled to risk transformation – of the world, the church, and their own lives in Christ. On your journey of transformation the resources and information here will help you venture into the refining fire and the water of renewal and rebirth. The work, life, and ministry is your own, but the road is one women can hope to build together along the way.

Fuller welcomes women equally into all its programs, and the seminary is committed to making its resources fully available to women as they pursue the professions and ministries to which the Lord has called them. All who teach and study in Fuller’s programs are expected to honor this commitment: under no condition may the authority of the classroom be used to challenge the calling of any student on the basis of gender.

...it can be said that the Orthodox Church precludes the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopacy. It is a matter of Holy Tradition, as well as a vision of ministry as something not limited to the ordained priesthood.

You ask, "What is the "OPC position on deaconesses?" Our Form of Government states (Chap.25, Part 1): "Every congregation shall elect ruling elders and deacons . . . Those elected must be male communicant members in good and regular standing in the church in which they are to exercise their office."

Women were prohibited from serving as elders or deacons until the 1930s — or the 1960s in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS). Ordaining women to the gospel ministry took an additional 20-30 years.

Women can participate fully in the life and ministry of RCA churches. The issue of the inclusion of women first formally came before the church in 1918, when two overtures came to General Synod requesting changes to the Book of Church Order that would allow women to be ordained as elders and deacons. The overtures were denied, but the issue continued to surface every few years.

Therefore, be it RESOLVED, That we not decide concerns of Christians doctrine and practice by modern cultural, sociological, and ecclesiastical trends or by emotional factors; that we remind ourselves of the dearly bought Baptist principle of the final authority of Scripture in matters of faith and conduct; and that we encourage the service of women in all aspects of church life and work other than pastoral functions and leadership roles entailing ordination.

Clergywomen have been part of Methodism since John Wesley licensed Sarah Crosby to preach in 1761. Although women were ordained in the Methodist tradition as early as the late 1800s, it was the May 4, 1956 General Conference vote for full clergy rights that forever changed the face of ordained clergy. These articles by several United Methodists offer historical context and interpretation of Scripture references related to the role of women in church leadership.

Recently the question of ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate has become an increasingly pressing issue in our churches, but the state of the question is not the same in both. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church is expected to consider the question at its meeting in September, 1976; meanwhile the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church has recently reaffirmed its position that only men are to be ordained to the priesthood.

The Wesleyan Church affirms its long-standing commitment to full opportunity for women to be ordained to the ministry and to serve in any and all ministerial and leadership capacities. Although this vision has yet to be fully realized within The Wesleyan Church, the Church and its precedent bodies have experienced the benefits of such a commitment for over 150 years.